Process and tool for making brooms



April '1 1924; I 1,488,517

. R. C. ROBERTS PROCESS AND TOOL FOR MAKING BRQOMS Filed Sap t. 11. 1922 Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

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RAYMOND C. ROBERTSQOF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PROCESS AND TOOL FOR MAKING BROOIVIS.

Application filed. September 11, 1922. Serial No. 587,359.

To all whom it may concemr Be it known that I, RAYMOND C. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes and Tools for Making Brooms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture bound together by metal bands and stitchmg. V f

In the usual operation of manufacture, the fiber and broom corn brush are gathered in more or less round bundles retained by metal-bands with the longest brush on the outside, the coarse fibers at the middle and shorter corn brush between the two. Then the wooden-handle is-inserted by tapering its end and driving the tapered portion into the center of the bundle, with the result that much of the coarse stifl'ening fiber and of the shorter brush are carried with it past the bands resulting in a poorly made broom because the driven material cannot be securely held and works out of the broom at an early period in the use and wear of the broom.

After the handle is driven as above described the ragged ends of the broom corn and other fiber extending beyond the top band is trimmed off up to and around the band and the handle, and because of the presence of the handle this trimming operation is slow and expensive. ends cannot be trimmed before the insertion of the handle because the driving of the latter would drive the brush and fiber inwardly with it leaving the cut surface sunken and uneven around the handle.

The object of this invention is to provide means for spreading the fiber and corn brush for the introduction of the handle without pointing the latter and without driving in the fiber and brush, thereby enabling the upper ends of the brush and 'fiber to be cut off even before the handle is inserted, and enabling the amount of waste to be reduced because the ends do not require to be cut back so far to obtain an even fin-.

ish; by leaving the end of the handle square The ragged providing a better anchorage for the nails used in nailing the broom to the handle.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention, Fig. .1, is a perspective View showing the material for a broom gathered within the metal-bands and clamped on a work bench, and showing the ragged ends partially cut off even with the top band. Fig. 2, is a perspective View of the same with all-of the ragged ends trimmed off and showing the commencement mean";

of the operation ofsassembling a handle.

Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section showing the handle assembling tool with a handle in it atthe final position-of the handle but before the removal of the tool. Y Fig. 4, is a side view of 'a finished b'room.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several'views, of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention the desired quantity offibers 6 are assembled in abundle and the desired quantity of broom corn with short brush isevenly placed around the bundle, and then around'the whole is an assemblage of broom corn with long brush. Thus gathered, the bundle is bound by a metal-band 8, the ends of which are bent to form a locked joint 9 (see Fig. l) which band is placed near the butt ends of the gathered material. Then the bundle is secured on a bench 10 by a clamp 11 in the usual manner and all of the butt ends projecting beyond the band 8 are trimmed ofi" even with said band. In my process this is done preferably before the handle is inserted.

The placing of the handle 12 is accomplished without disturbing the cut surface by the -use of a needle 13 having a point at one end and a socket 14 at its opposite end in which the squared end of the handle 12 is inserted. The needle is curved near its pointed end so that when pushed into the bundle in the manner illustrated in the drawings, the point will come out through the side of the broom near the clamps in the manner shown in Fig. 3, where it can be grasped and the needle and its socket readily withdrawn through the loose broom material leaving the handle at the required position with its squared end opposite a second band 16. This insertion and withdrawal of the needle is made easier and the dragging with it of the material of the broom is pre vented by a tapering end 19 between the end, said needle Vhavinga taperingsocket i socket and needle, in which in the embodiment here shown the threaded end of the needle is screwed. The broom is then flattened andthe bands nailed as shown in the drawings, nails in the band 16 engaging the end of the handle with, more security than if v the latter were tapered as heretofore. The

broom is then stitched as indicated at 17 and 18 and its sweeping-end trimmed in the usual manner.

By the use'of my needle 13 and socket 14 and tapering member 19 the material of the broom is pressed aside for the introduction of the handle without being driven ahead of it and displaced sovas to weaken theconstruction as heretofore; the operation of =manufacture is made easier and shorter and thereforecheaper, and-a stronger and more durable and better 'productis obtained. 1

While I have described my, invention with more or less attention tondetails, it is obx vious that changes may be made in the steps and mechani without departing I from the spirit of the'invention and Ijthereforejdof not desire to be limited unduly; "or anyl more than is required by the appended claims and having thus any described my invention What I claim is 1.. Theproce ss of inaking brooms which consists in gathering the fiber and brush in bundles, binding them together near their butt ends by means of a band, trimming off the butts even with the band, inserting a needle into the bundle through the trimmed which a broom handle is seated, withdrawing the needle leaving the handle positioned in the bundle, then flattening the bundle and band and nailing them to each other and to the handle.

2. The process of making brooms which consists in gathering the fiber and brush in bundles, binding them together near their butt ends by means of a metal-band, trimming oil the butts even with the band, in-

serting a needle into the bundle through the trimmed end said needle having a tapering socket in which a broom handle with a squared end is seated, withdrawing the .c vim. 1311 a'jtool for inserting handles in. jbrooms, a socket to receive the end of the handle said socket having a,tapering end,

and a needle extension fromjsaidjtapering 3 end, the needle being curved near that end which is remote from the socket. f v i V Signed at Indianapolis, Indiana, this: the

8th" day of September 1922. p

' RAYMOND o. ROBERTS] 

